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We are talking about backup cameras. You need that cam when you are in reverse. If you are in reverse, you have the reverse lights on. Don`t you?
Just for a note: I wired my backup cam to the number plate light, so it is always on. I have number plate light on my trailer too.
I sometimes have to put vehicle in forward and reverse a few times when backing in a trailer. I've only been doing it for 50 years so I haven't mastered a reverse only trailer back up every time.
And I apologize about the license light comment. I checked your location and realize your government requires you to have all your lights on whenever the vehicle is running. I still do not want to have to hack the trailer wiring system to install a camera I might want to move.
I'm as geeky as the next guy, probably more since my job is in IT, but my VCR is still flashing 12:00.
I could go either way on the wired/wireless issue. For simplicity, quality and reliability, I'm just fine with a wired solution.
My neighbor's baby cam has a stronger signal than my current wireless backup camera. While I think his baby is cute, I really would rather see what's behind my truck.
My Toy Hauler does have backup lights. I don't know how useful they are.
Best feature is the trailers which have surge brakes sometimes use the back up light power to defeat the surge brakes. Otherwise it is impossible to back up without applying the brakes.
From a technical perspective... doing wireless right is hard.
Not all trailers have a battery on board, and those that don't have a battery, unless they have an interior light, won't have a reason to pull the auxiliary power from the truck anyways, meaning you'd have to run a new dedicated wire for the camera to get power, just so it could relay the image data back wireless.
Wired gives you much better and more reliable bandwidth.
These are work trucks, used in places where wireless detonators for TNT and the like are used, wouldn't want a camera to accidentally set off a blast.
It would be good practice for wireless cameras to implement some kind of security layer, which isn't free.
On that note, wireless components tend to be more expensive.
Wireless devices are extremely susceptible to interference.
Wireless would require the manufacturer get approval from the FCC and their Canadian cousins.
Wireless is easier to steal.
Trucks have a lot of metal, that tends to make wireless complicated to engineer. Many, if not most, trailers are also metal.
Lots of trade-offs for the convenience of not having to run a wire, where a wire run correctly (that's important) is very reliable.
I think Arch has basically nailed it here. Wireless, if feasible, would work in the after market where customer expectations are a little different when spending a couple hundred bucks as opposed to the auto maker charging 60k+ for a whole package. Customer expectations are high for the OEM options because they are more intrinsic to the vehicle, so you can bet the system the OEM chooses will be the best combination of cost AND performance. If Ford goes with the more costly wired system, it is because it performs better.
According to the manual the auxiliary camera will only work in reverse. So much for checking the status of the livestock going down the road. Unless a revision is coming.
Auxiliary Camera (If Equipped)
Note: The auxiliary camera works with
trailers up to 50 ft (15 m) in length.
E233727
Access the auxiliary camera view
by pressing the button on the
display screen when in reverse
(R).
The auxiliary camera system is a variant
of the rear view camera, comprised of a
camera with a built in amplifier. It is
designed to display a rear view image from
the back of a trailer while reversing. The
auxiliary camera is not meant as an
alternative to the rear view camera.
238
Wireless cam could probably be feasible and I understand why people want it, but I would prefer the wired. WiFi can (and legally must) be subject to all kinds of interference. How well would it perform in rain, snow, fog, etc. How powerful could it legally be? Could it be hackable? Would all trailer cams run on the same frequency? If you back your Super Duty into a stall at the county fair next to another one, do you see what's behind the other trailer?
What I hope for is that a standard plug on both truck and trailer ends is established by all all auto and trailer makers. New trailers can already have the wiring and cameras installed.
Wireless cam could probably be feasible and I understand why people want it, but I would prefer the wired. WiFi can (and legally must) be subject to all kinds of interference. How well would it perform in rain, snow, fog, etc. How powerful could it legally be? Could it be hackable? Would all trailer cams run on the same frequency? If you back your Super Duty into a stall at the county fair next to another one, do you see what's behind the other trailer?
What I hope for is that a standard plug on both truck and trailer ends is established by all all auto and trailer makers. New trailers can already have the wiring and cameras installed.
Bingo! Someone originally set a standard for the 7 pin plug, let's hope Ford just set the standard for the camera plug.
Now, put a connection in the bed next to the 7-pin, please Ford.
Wireless cam could probably be feasible and I understand why people want it, but I would prefer the wired. WiFi can (and legally must) be subject to all kinds of interference. How well would it perform in rain, snow, fog, etc. How powerful could it legally be? Could it be hackable? Would all trailer cams run on the same frequency? If you back your Super Duty into a stall at the county fair next to another one, do you see what's behind the other trailer?
What I hope for is that a standard plug on both truck and trailer ends is established by all all auto and trailer makers. New trailers can already have the wiring and cameras installed.
What I really hope is that they made a relatively open data link standard for the camera plug that would allow other arbitrary data to be sent/received to/by the trailer on the same connector. TPMS, additional cameras, internal temperature, cooler/generator, battery status, etc. That'd be really nice. In theory we could even digitize the handling of lights and provide greater control to them with less wiring. All kinds of cool possibilities.
According to the manual the auxiliary camera will only work in reverse. So much for checking the status of the livestock going down the road. Unless a revision is coming.
Auxiliary Camera (If Equipped)
Note: The auxiliary camera works with
trailers up to 50 ft (15 m) in length.
E233727
Access the auxiliary camera view
by pressing the button on the
display screen when in reverse
(R).
The auxiliary camera system is a variant
of the rear view camera, comprised of a
camera with a built in amplifier. It is
designed to display a rear view image from
the back of a trailer while reversing. The
auxiliary camera is not meant as an
alternative to the rear view camera.
238
I'm hoping that revision comes quick. I've got 2 cameras on my gooseneck horse trailer right now - 1 for backing up, and 1 for horse monitoring.. Right now, I'll be continuing to use my aftermarket setup on the horse trailer so I can have my inside camera. But I'll probably also install the TPMS monitor on the horse trailer. So I'll have 3 cables to hook up each time instead of the current 2. Yay!
My 2 cents on the wired vs wireless on the back up camera. I tow a 43 foot 5th wheel which I added 2 wireless cameras for always on access. One in the bed when for when I am hooking up and one at that tail end of the trailer.
I lose signal often. Just drops and comes back in a few seconds. It supposed to be rated for 70 feet. But you add in the wireless receiver location, it is close. That is also unimpeded 70 feet. Cab of the truck, bed then the full length of the RV makes it spotty reception at times. Lots of interference.
As for the power, well I hard wired it to the rear light, which always need to be on in order for it to work. I don't have a problem with that since I prefer my running lights to be on when I'm towing, but still is a bit of a nuisance.
I am all for the wired camera as long as the cabling reached.
I'll use the old camera to monitor the toys in the 5th wheel to make sure they haven't shifted. Or maybe I'll sell it to someone who likes wireless.
To power any device constantly on a trailer you could always add an always on circuit through the 7 pin trailer connector. The no 4 pin is a hot lead used to charge batteries on trailers and can also be used to run accessories. It would be a simple task to add an additional circuit to the trailer to run your "wireless" cameras. If the trailer is equipped with electric trailer brakes with an onboard battery for emergency breakaway it would be a simple tap to the battery. It is kept charged through that no.4 pin.
My battery is solar charged when the truck is not connected anyway; I wonder if the truck charges it when it's on. I wonder if it even has enough juice to stop the trailer.
Fortunately the wired Ford solution solves the problem.
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